Every time one of these lists comes out it's pretty easy to see that they just took other people's lists and/or didn't do a very good job actually researching the burgers.

I've had about 1/2 of the burgers mentioned and 5 guys has a burger better than some in there. But none of those get into the same league as the burger at the Earle of Sandwich pub in Hilton Head.

The Earle of Sandwich won't make it into most of these lists because the owners aren't "Let's expand into a chain and have a million sites, lets triple the size of the place and add Earle Animatronics" types, they just have a nice little nothing fancy pub and make an amazing burger. You won't find a set of hipster burger mods with gold caviar, or a special spam and tofu dressing, just one of the best most delicious burgers on the planet.

five guys is over priced and over rated... the best burger I have had was scotty p's in frisco texas, the preston trail burger is awesome. also a second place for me is scotty p's burgers in bedford tx these are great too.

If you find yourself near Sedalia, Mo, stop in at the (relocated) Wheel inn andtry a Goober burger.....just like a regular one, but they add a dollop of warmpeanut butter. Best one I've ever had. Just wish I didn't live 3 hours away.

In-N-out is a decent burger, but it does not belong on that list, especially because the fries are inedible. The list is clearly NY focused and misses anything that is somewhat new to the scene. One of the best burgers I have had lately is Doghaus in Pasadena. Awesome burgers and Kings Hawaiian bread buns give the perfect sweet-savory mix. Plus their fries are yummy! http://www.doghausdogs.com/

freewill:Xenomech: They recently opened up a Five Guys restaurant in my city. Good lord, I have never had a worse tasting burger & fries in my life.

Seriously, I had my first one at Dulles and couldn't believe it. It was an awesome burger. When they opened one in my area, it was still pretty good.

Since, I've had three equally terrible burgers from three different Five Guys, they were basically round balls of dough and hot grease wrapped in foil. I can only speculate that they lost control of quality as they expanded so quickly. It's a shame.

Five Guys is hit and miss. There are Five Guys joints that make litereally the best tasting food this side of fast, and there are those which are literally inedible. First time I had Five Guys, I thought it was just awful. A friend told me I had merely gone to the wrong place. Try the one just up the way, he said. It was astoundingly better.

That chain needs to get some QC training stat, cause some of their joints just suck when it comes to food prep.

I can understand the trepidation with giving organizations money because you don't know where it's going, but I never understood the complaint of the CEO having a substantial salary. In the case of the Red Cross you're dealing with a billion dollar worldwide organization. Shouldn't the CEO be compensated commensurately?

And according to another fun recent email forward Canada has found the cure for cancer but no one will invest in it because it's not profitable.

Joey Jo Jo Jr Shabadu:Reminds me of an email forward my dad sent me recently. Seems like it makes the rounds after every disaster:

Link

I can understand the trepidation with giving organizations money because you don't know where it's going, but I never understood the complaint of the CEO having a substantial salary. In the case of the Red Cross you're dealing with a billion dollar worldwide organization. Shouldn't the CEO be compensated commensurately?

And according to another fun recent email forward Canada has found the cure for cancer but no one will invest in it because it's not profitable.

That place is good? Damn, I worked a few blocks down Mass Ave from them for years and never tried the place. And 90% of the people I worked with were either from Harvard or MIT. No one ever suggested it.

Matrix Flavored Wasabi:In-N-Out has to be the most overrated burger I've ever had. Same with Five Guys fries. I'll take my local joints any day.

AMEN!

Backyard burger is the best fast food burger I've had, even then I'll take the burger joint down the street over it. When quality takes front seat over mass standardization it just tastes better.

Also Five Guys cheeseburger has 840 calories, 26.5 grams of saturated fat, and 1050mg of sodium. Hmmm I wonder why people think it tastes good (*hint* it's the huge amount of fat and salt). You could have two In-and-Out cheeseburgers for that with less saturated fat (of course it still has fark tons of salt).

RoyHobbs22:Are they both cash only? The Fam that is in or near NYC all swear by Lugar's. if I am getting a burger I am going to a burger place. Plan B in CT is probably too popular for most Farkers but the 3shrooms burger with an upgrade to truffle fries is top notch.

Luger is primarily cash only (they have their own CC, and now take debit cards, though they'll make you go up to the reception area to type in the pin), but Wolfgang's takes credit cards.

I should add that the burger at Keen's Steakhouse is not bad, especially when enjoyed in their bar area, which is a throw-back to about 80 years ago. The steaks, and (supposedly famous) mutton, are meh.

casual disregard:Five Guys is hit and miss. There are Five Guys joints that make litereally the best tasting food this side of fast, and there are those which are literally inedible. First time I had Five Guys, I thought it was just awful. A friend told me I had merely gone to the wrong place. Try the one just up the way, he said. It was astoundingly better.

Above I mentioned what I disliked the 1 time I tried 5 guys which is not a matter of quality control but seems more corporate policy.

1. They are out to capture the fattie market with portion sizes that make big eaters eating huge amounts feel normal.

2. Their buns are squishy soft and sweetened because their target market will eat more of soft sweet things.

I doubt portion size and bread style is under control of an individual outlet.

I can understand the trepidation with giving organizations money because you don't know where it's going, but I never understood the complaint of the CEO having a substantial salary. In the case of the Red Cross you're dealing with a billion dollar worldwide organization. Shouldn't the CEO be compensated commensurately?

And according to another fun recent email forward Canada has found the cure for cancer but no one will invest in it because it's not profitable.

Psycoholic_Slag:The Original Tommy's double chili cheese burger w/ chili cheese fries and if you don't get a small handful of those little peppers you are teh ghey.

Tommy's is like beer: You aren't going to enjoy it the first time. Nor the second time, but it won't be as bad. Around the fourth time, you realize, "This is kinda good." The sixth time, "This is really good."

But, be prepared. You are going to have some off the nastiest shiats you've ever produced until your body adapts.

I need to stop at one next time I'm in California, damned be the consequences to the hotel toilet...

HairBolus:casual disregard: Five Guys is hit and miss. There are Five Guys joints that make litereally the best tasting food this side of fast, and there are those which are literally inedible. First time I had Five Guys, I thought it was just awful. A friend told me I had merely gone to the wrong place. Try the one just up the way, he said. It was astoundingly better.

Above I mentioned what I disliked the 1 time I tried 5 guys which is not a matter of quality control but seems more corporate policy.

1. They are out to capture the fattie market with portion sizes that make big eaters eating huge amounts feel normal.

2. Their buns are squishy soft and sweetened because their target market will eat more of soft sweet things.

I doubt portion size and bread style is under control of an individual outlet.

I think that's the first time where a farker referred to his own comment with a hyperlink to his own comment. That makes me feel weird.

No lie about the portions, they're way too big. The "small" burger is a regular burger with a big-ass bun.

And I have the SOP on how to serve Five Guys Fries:

1) Cook fries.2) Pour fries into cup.3) Place cup in bag.4) Dump a pound of extra fries into bag.

Farkin' pics are makin' me crave a burger...I noticed that none of the burgers on the list claimed Kobe beef (one did claim Kobe-style beef), even though Food and Wine said they were importing it from Japan. Idiots at F&W magazine should know that Kobe beef cannot be found anywhere in the US.

Toddicusrex:Farkin' pics are makin' me crave a burger...I noticed that none of the burgers on the list claimed Kobe beef (one did claim Kobe-style beef), even though Food and Wine said they were importing it from Japan. Idiots at F&W magazine should know that Kobe beef cannot be found anywhere in the US.

There is a steakhouse in NYC that has it now and one can tell it's the real deal because the steaks cost $300.

Lists always fail when they use too large an area. Every town of any size probably has at least one place with a great burger. Most of these are small local places that will never be visited by food critics who make up lists like these.List should say "best burgers of trendy places we have visited"

flucto:Toddicusrex: Farkin' pics are makin' me crave a burger...I noticed that none of the burgers on the list claimed Kobe beef (one did claim Kobe-style beef), even though Food and Wine said they were importing it from Japan. Idiots at F&W magazine should know that Kobe beef cannot be found anywhere in the US.

There is a steakhouse in NYC that has it now and one can tell it's the real deal because the steaks cost $300.

is kobe really much better than waygu? I mean, isn't waygu from kobe ancestry, raised in the kobe style. just, not in japan?

oh well, i like waygu. but a waygu burger just feels like cheating.

there are all sorts of different kinds of cows (with all sorts of different parts), and they all have their place on the menu. taking the best and not giving it the proper respect is kind of sinful.

RoyHobbs22:Are they both cash only? The Fam that is in or near NYC all swear by Lugar's. if I am getting a burger I am going to a burger place. Plan B in CT is probably too popular for most Farkers but the 3shrooms burger with an upgrade to truffle fries is top notch.

The pretezel bun at Plan be is good, but I'm still going to have to say Goldburgers beats them hands down every time.

I know farkers like to see their ground meat medium/medium rare, like it's a steak, but I don't. It's not filet, you're not savoring the texture and flavor of ground meat by having it cooked that way. That said, it's easy to understand the horror of having a dry burger. If you're going to a fast food joint, it's probably going to be dry. If you cook them at home, it's not difficult at all to have a juicy, well done burger, even on the stovetop.

Brown it on one side, brown it on the other until it looks cooked. Let it sit for 5 minutes and garnish with your ketchup, mayonnaise, and american cheese. Perfectly cooked, juicy, and tasty.

I've done this dozens of times for friends who swore they only ordered burgers medium/medium rare just to prove a point. Granted, if you're ordering a burger somewhere and they give you an option on doneness, it'shiat and miss. But you make a perfectly juicy well done burger at home.